QUESTION Time is featuring an entirely unvaccinated audience this evening as the BBC is looking to shine a light on why some have refused the jag.

Fiona Bruce, the host of the programme, made an appeal last month to those who had chosen not to recieve vaccine to be part of the audience. The debate will look to understand a more diverse range of opinions on the issue.

Bruce said: “There are many different reasons that people have chosen not to get the vaccine, we’d be interested in exploring those issues. 

"So If you are someone who made that decision not to get vaccinated we would very much like to hear from you. I think it is an important debate."

Tonight’s programme will be hosted in London where there is a relatively high proportion of the population who are unvaccinated. As of January 26, only 63% of London had received their second dose of the vaccine compared to the UK average of 72.1%.

The programme has caused a stir on social media with many voicing their concern over the BBC's decision.

Meanwhile, others have voiced anger over the BBC's decision to vet audience members after fears were raised over anti-vax groups publicising Bruce's appeal online.

Professor Linda Bauld, Chief Social Policy Advisor to the Scottish Government, said: “We are getting into very difficult territories. One of the challenges with the media is that they want to show balance and equal weight to different perspectives. Sometimes you do that in a way that creates division and spreads misinformation.”

However, Bauld was quick to commend the BBC for its efforts to tackle misinformation relative to other broadcasters.

She said: “There’s much more that multiple platforms can do. The BBC specifically has a fact checker function and is certainly an outlet that is working hard to deal with misinformation.”

Touching on the potential benefits of tonight's programme, she said: “If they get into the business of addressing people’s concerns or if they’re able to provide good, accurate information as part of the debate and reassure people around the vaccine, despite those who medically can't get one, there might be something positive that comes out of this.”